High school football: New Madrid receives forfeit win over Malden

NEW MADRID — The New Madrid County Central High School football team didn't break a sweat on Friday night.

That's because the Eagles received a 13-0 forfeit victory over Malden in the opening round of the Class 2 District 1 playoffs. New Madrid awaits the winner of a game between Scott City and East Prairie, played after this press run of the Delta Dunklin Democrat.

Malden school district superintendent Carie Fowler informed the school board of the decision to forfeit the game on Thursday morning.

“Malden's officially pulling out of the New Madrid game,” said a school board member, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Malden reportedly was down to 13 available players, the board member said. Starting quarterback Quamareous Farmer wouldn't have been able to play — suffering an unspecified injury in the Green Wave's 78-8 loss to Dexter on Oct. 20.

Forfeit losses are nothing new for Malden, who had two of them during the 2022 season on Sept. 9 versus Charleston and Oct. 21 against Dexter. In fact, Malden had another forfeit loss to the Bearcats during the 2021 campaign as well.

The Green Wave will go winless for the second straight year. Malden hasn't won a playoff game since Nov. 1, 2019, when it beat Charleston 18-13.

Malden football continues to be a source of turmoil; it's another season in which two different head coaches piloted the program.

Shane Kearbey was hired as head football coach before the season began. He was suspended from coaching the team stemming from an incident that occurred during a 50-42 loss to East Prairie on Sept. 29.

Assistant Nick Nealey served as interim head coach in the final three regular-season games, losses to Portageville (49-0), Hayti (40-14) and Dexter (78-8).

School officials reported Kearbey was removed from all coaching assignments for the 2023-24 academic year. He remains as a physical education instructor.